In 1995 Melissa wrote in my yearbook, "I think it's safe to say the road on which we have traveled has been a bumpy one. I just want you to know my door never has and never will be closed. I am still here for you."  There is a profound truth behind these words.  I know that her door never closed and I know that no matter what bumps in the road I may face she will always be there. 

Melissa was unlike anyone I have ever known. She was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of appendiceal cancer known as PMP(pseudomyxoma peritonei) on 3/11/2003. She faced it head on and with an almost unheard of ferocity. She endured multiple surgeries, two rounds of chemotherapy and 6 years of knowing she would not be cured, and did all of this with a smile on her face.  Her strength came from her heart, she loved life and knew it was worth fighting for.  In September of 2007 she married the love of her life, Michael McBride, who renewed her strength and shared his own in the times when hers wavered. Melissa found in Michael the last piece of the puzzle. 

In her last few months she fought harder than ever before. All her arrangements had been made, all her affairs in order, all of her goodbyes were said and everyone told her it was ok to leave us, but she told us all that she didn't know how to stop fighting.  Melissa thought that would be a sign of weakness and she was anything but weak.  She never let the world see her pain and spent most of her time thinking of how hard her passing would be on all of us. Strangely, after all the time spent promising her that I would be ok, I cannot even begin to express how wrong I was. I am lost without my friend. I am so grateful that I knew her and that I spent so much time laughing with her, I have learned so much about life from her and I can never thank her enough.

For her strength, for her compassion, for her generosity, for her laughter but mostly for her friendship Melissa will be missed.


Melissa's father spoke at the church and was kind enough to share his words here:
http://webmail1.webmail.aol.com/28563/aol-1/en-us/mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.22567431&folder=Saved&partId=2&saveAs=MelissaBlackfordMcBride.doc